Multiple California cities have banned weed killers containing glyphosate, a suspected carcinogen. But despite criticism from U.S. politicians, sciencemag.com reports that the  World Health Organization (WHO) has remained steadfast in its position that the herbicide can cause cancer.

In an effort to protect the public’s health, California’s cities have taken a range of approaches to handling the highly debated herbicide, from outright bans to milder restrictions.  The latest city to ban glyphosate-containing weed killers, such as Monsanto’s Roundup, is Watsonville, in Santa Cruz County.

Watsonville is a city surrounded by farmland, so a dangerous weed killer was of particular concern to residents there. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that on April 23, Watsonville’s city council voted unanimously to ban the use of weed killers containing glyphosate on city-owned land. The ban will take effect on July 1.

Possible risks associated with glyphosate have gained attention in recent years — the popular weedkiller Roundup contains glyphosate, and numerous consumers have accused Monsanto of knowingly exposing the public to a dangerous chemical. Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto has added fuel to the already contentious glyphosate debate.

The issue is larger than just Monsanto and Roundup, because glyphosate is an active ingredient in a number of popular weed killers. California local governments have taken a range of approaches to mitigating glyphosate’s risks.

Numerous California Cities Have Already Banned or Restricted the Use of Glyphosate

In Watsonville’s case, city staff suggested suspending the use of glyphosate while conducting additional research, but the city council went ahead and voted to ban the weed killer altogether.

Weed killers manufactured without glyphosate tend to be more expensive, which could mean cutting back on the maintenance of public lands due to budget constraints. 

The Santa Cruz Sentinel quoted Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada, who said: “Will there be a cost, yes…I’m ready for the consequences. If weeds start growing out everywhere, I invite the public to send me an email and I’ll be happy to explain the rationale behind my decision.”

Monsanto, and now Bayer, continue to maintain that glyphosate is safe. In contrast to the WHO’s position, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) counters that glyphosate does not pose any known health risks and is not carcinogenic when used as a weed killer.

Critics have charged that in an effort to protect profits, Monsanto and Bayer are misleading the public. Thousands of people who reportedly developed cancer after using or being exposed to glyphosate-containing weed killers, like Roundup, have filed lawsuits against Bayer and Monsanto, claiming the cancer was caused, at least in part, by the weed killer. The plaintiffs say the corporations should be liable for the parties’ injuries.

CBS News reported that a jury in a Roundup trial in Oakland, Calif. awarded a couple $2 billion in punitive damages, in addition to $55 million for pain and suffering. The couple claimed that they both developed non-Hodgkin Lymphoma after using Roundup for about three years doing residential landscaping.

Fighting back, Bayer argued that the couple had “long histories of illnesses known to be substantial risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma,” so Roundup should not be to blame for the couple’s diagnoses, according to the CBS News report.

If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup as a farm worker or home gardener, you may have a legal claim. Legal migrant farm workers may also seek help. Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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